I FOUND him in a cottage, one Sunday afternoon, and rather abruptly questioned him as to the forgiveness of sins. He was old, wore a smock-frock; and had been reading in a large type New Testament.
“Are all your sins forgiven you?" I asked.
“I can't say they are," he replied in a troubled voice.
Allowing one sin per day, I made a calculation that this aged sinner had added up a considerable score.
“Let us see, one sin each day is three hundred and sixty-five in a year, and you have lived-how many years?”
“But there has been more than one each day, sir.”
“And you do not know they are forgiven”
“Well, you see, sir, I've been reading this Testament, but somehow I don't seem to understand it.”
Taking the book, I turned to Rom. 5, and pointed to verse 6—"CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY.”
“Whom did Christ die for?”
“Why, for all of us.”
“But was it for you? Look at this verse now.
Whom does that last word mean—’ UNGODLY?’
Are you Mr. Ungodly?”
This name seemed to rather startle the poor fellow, and he began, like many more, to try and prove he was fairly good.
“I’m not so very bad, sir.”
Now the text did not say anything about
MR. NOT-SO-VERY-BAD,
so if the old man was to be known by that name he certainly was not mentioned. The Not-so-very-bads are to be found in every church and chapel, and in almost every house. But there are none of that name in heaven, nor are they spoken of in the proclamation of grace.
“You see, my friend, this verse says,—' Christ died for the ungodly,' so own your name, and receive the blessings obtained by that death. Mr. Ungodly is the person spoken of. Mr. Ungodly deserved to be punished because of his ungodliness, ' for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness' (Rom. 1:1818For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18)).
But though God hates ungodliness, He loves the ungodly, and in His love He gave His Son Jesus Christ to take upon Him the penalty of ungodliness, that the ungodly might be saved. Are you Mr. Ungodly? If so, Christ died for you, and wants you to believe it.”
The wrinkled face seemed to brighten a little as I went on to explain how, as soon as Mr. Ungodly “believeth on him (God) that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)). He is no longer without God, and so ungodly; he has God, and is therefore godly.
He is no longer unrighteous, and so without righteousness; he has the righteousness of God, and therefore is righteous.
The dear old fellow lifted his hand from his knee and brought it gently down again, as he quietly said, “I can see that. Thank you kindly.”
It was so simple that he could not help seeing it when the Spirit of God opened his eyes.
“Ungodly." Is there a Mr., Mrs., or Miss reading this? If so, let me address a few words to them.
Mr. UNGODLY, your life is uncertain, for the Book says, “The ungodly are like the chaff which the wind driveth away" (Psa. 1:44The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (Psalm 1:4)).
Mr. UNGODLY, your way is a way of death, for “the way of the ungodly shall perish" (Psa. 1:66For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:6)), and that perishing will be with awful terror; for as all your family were destroyed in the old world, so " the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men " (2 Peter 3:77But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:7)).
Mr. UNGODLY, there is hope today Let me repeat the good news I took to your aged name-sake,—
“CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY.”
ANON.